Changeable exhibitor



June 4, 1957 D. G. DUTY 2,794,280

CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR Filed Nov. 9, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR. DORSEY G. DUTY BY JJAKMA A A TTORNEY D. G. DUTY CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR June 4, 1957 3 She'ets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1954 a 11 IHII \td, I y 7 mt l T W s i W E \2 I A W 1M i p m w M Am ,v

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IN VEN TOR.

G. DUTY BY d DQRSEY ATTORNEY June 4, 1957 D. c; DUTY CHANGEABLE'. EXHIBITOR V a Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 9, 1954 INVENTOR. DORSEY a. DUTY A. r mmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmfi 7' & wmm @mm W 4 x 4 A TTORNE Y United States Patent CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR Dorsey G. Duty, Akron, Ohio Application November 9, 1954, Serial No. 467,7 S4

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-32) The present invention relates to an advertising device of the type in which a group of different messages are exhibited while being continuously changed by a traveling band.

One object of the present invention is to provide means for detachably securing exhibit panels to a moving band. Another object of the invention is to provide means for detachably securing letters to exhibit panels fixed on a movable band. Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic stop mechanism for shutting off the power supply of a moving band whenever the apparatus jams.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and detailed specifications below.

The basic apparatus to which the invention relates is a changeable exhibitor which includes a box encasement, a window in the box for exhibiting signs, a motor-driven endless band, and a plurality of signs fixed at spaced points along the band. Such a device is shown in Haynes United States Letters Patent No. 862,860 of 1907. According to a primary feature of the present invention, each end of a display panel is detachably secured to a moving band, one at each side of the display box by means comprising pairs of spaced nailhead-type studs mounted on each band directly opposing one another and a pair of sheet metal flanges depending from the reverse side of each end of each panel and extending parallel to the bands. Each flange is provided with a keyhole slot for one of a pair of said studs, a hole for the other stud of the same pair and a slit which may be opened for placing the stud in the hole. In the preferred construction the slot extends parallel to the length of the moving band so that it performs the adjusting function which is shown in such prior devices as Ward United States Letters Patent No. 1,795,748.

Each panel is preferably constructed of sheet metal, although it can be made of cardboard or sheet plastic, depending on the intended use of the device. The intelligence to be exhibited may be included directly on the face of the panel, or it may be detachably secured thereto. A feature of this invention is the means for detachably securing letters, pictures and the like on the display panels. These means include holes and slots in the letters to be attached, an angular slat projecting outwardly from the bottom of each sign panel for engaging said slots, and a plurality of spring fingers attached to the bottom of the panel with one end adapted to fit into one of said holes and hold the slotted portion of the letter on the slat. In the preferred form of the invention a plurality of these springs are provided for each panel, and they are slidably secured thereon for obtaining any desired spacing of letters along the face of the panel. The slat preferably extends the full width of the panel, and it is attached thereto by welding, rivets, or the like in such a manner that it lies flat along the extreme bottom edge of the face of the panel and then gradually diverges at about a 20 angle. Of course, this assembly may be reversed to support the letters from the top of the panel.

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The band means for moving the panels include a pair of endless chains mounted on suitably spaced sprockets. By using a rectangular spacing of four sprockets and positioning a fifth sprocket inside the rectangle defined by the other four, greater utility of the space within the encasement is accomplished. This feature is well known in such prior patents as Haynes Patent No. 867,860 mentioned above.

According to this invention, the fifth sprocket of each band is keyed on an axle which is driven through a separate chain drive. A feature of this invention is the stop motion which is operatively associated with the chain drive leading directly from the power source. The stop motion includes a floating idler-tightener roll which is spring pressed against the chain. This roll is also operatively connected to a switch for cutting off the power whenever the drive chain becomes tightened from excessive load and shifts its position.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of that form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 with the side of the encasement broken away to reveal the internal parts of the operating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in cross section and partly in elevation taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along line 66 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a box casing 10 is provided with a glass front 12 through which signs may be exhibited.

Each sign includes a plurality of panels 14, each displaying intelligence as a plurality of letters 16.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 7 and specifically to Fig. 2, it will be seen that a frame 11 inside casing 10 mounts the operating assemblies of the invention. Mounted at each end of frame 11 are corresponding sprockets 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24. A pair of moving bands in the form of driving chains 25 are positioned to travel endlessly in unison, each around one set of the five sprockets at one side of the frame. Each end of each panel 16 is attached to one of the moving bands 25 by means more fully described hereinafter. Frame 11 also carries an electric motor 30 which furnishes the power for moving the bands. Sprockets 21 are keyed on an axle 32, and a driving sprocket 34 is keyed 0n the same axle. Through a chain 36 and a gear and sprocket assembly 38, motor 30 drives sprocket 34, axle 32, and the moving bands 25.

The form of the frame, the motor, the sprockets, the chains, and the gear assembly may be widely varied by those skilled in the art, as they are conventional elements which in themselves form no part of the present invention.

An important feature of the present invention is the means for detachably securing the panels 14 to the moving bands 25. Each band 25 carries a plurality of pairs of spaced nailhead studs 40 and 42 opposing similar pairs of nailhead studs 40 and 42 on the other band. Each end of the underside of each panel 14 carries a depending flange 44. Each flange 44 is constructed of sheet metal which has enough rigidity to maintain its normal shape during operation of the sign but which has suflicient flexibility and elasticity to permit manual deformation without injury. Other materials possessing these same characteristics may be substituted for the sheet metal. Such materials are nylon, polyethylene, and similar plastics.

Each flange is provided with a keyhole slot indicated generally at 46 which includes an enlarged portion 48 and an elongated portion 50. The enlarged portion 48 is big enough to permit the head of stud 42 to be pushed through it, and the elongated portion 50 is small enough to retain the stud once it is moved away from the enlarged portion. Each flange 44 is also provided with a slit 52 and a hole 54 (Fig. 4). Hole 54 is a suitable size for retaining a stud which is inserted by deforming the flange at slit 52.

Thus to detachably secure panel 14 one places the panel between opposing pairs of studs 41 and 42 on bands 25.

One stud 42 is slipped through one keyhole slot at 48, and the other flange is pressed inwardly to permit the other stud 42 to be inserted in the same manner. The panel is then moved to shift both studs 42 into the elongated portion 58 of the keyhole slot 46. Then one flange 7 44 is. bent out of its normal plane and the appropriate stud 40 is pressed into position at hole 44. The operation is repeated on the other flange, and the panel is secured. The spacing of the studs and the slots is such that once stud 40 is fixed in hole 54 stud 42 will remain in section of its keyhole slot in all operating positions of the panel on the moving band.

Each panel 14 is preferably constructed of a light sheet metal and is provided with a pair of end bends 56 for rigidityand strength. In some forms of the invention it is desirable to paint or otherwise apply intelligence directly on to the panels 14. In the preferred form of the invention illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 7, letters 16 are mounted on the face of the panel. The bottom of each letter 16 is provided with a mounting slot 58 and one or more mounting recesses or holes 60. Each panel is provided with a slat 62 which extends all the way across its bottom and projects forwardly and upwardly from the face of the panel to mate with slots 58. A plurality of spring fingers 64 are fixed to the same end of each panel as the slat 62. Each spring finger is normally biased against the face of panel 14 and is so positioned with respect to the slat 58 that it extends into the hole 60 of letters 16 for holding slat 62 in slot 58 of the letters. The spring fingers may be mounted at spaced points for automatically spacing the letters, or they may be slidably mounted to give any desired spacing. In the form shown they are fixed directly on the panels. Thus to detachably secure a letter on the face of panel 14, one merely places the letter in the appropriate position on the panel, fits slot 58 of the letter on to slat 62 of the panel and snaps spring finger 64 into position in recess 6! of the letter.

Idler sprocket is mounted on an arm 72 which is pivoted to frame 11 at pivot point 74. A tension spring 76 extending between the frame and the idler roll biases idler 70 against chain 36 to distort the chain from its normal path and at the same time hold the chain tight enough for good operation under normal conditions. A

switch 78 is positioned between a source of electric power (not shown) and motor 30. A straight mechanical link 80 extends between the switch handle and the slotting roll. In the position shown in Fig. 2 the switch is closed as in normal operation. If for any reason the unit jams, chain 36 will be straightened on the side against the idler roll 70 which will then be moved counterclockwise about pivot 74 in Fig. 2 to open switch 78 and halt operation before the unit is damaged.

I claim:

1. In a changeable exhibitor wherein a plurality of panels are moved by an endless band, means for attaching the panels to the band comprising a pair of spaced nailhead studs extending laterally from said band, a normally Stiff but slightly yieldable flange depending from the underside of said panel and extending parallel to said band, said flange being provided with a keyhole slot for engaging one of said studs, and a hole-and-slit for engaging the other of said studs, the distance between the enlarged portion of said keyhole slot and the hole being a distance greater than the distance between said studs whereby the stud in engagement with said slot cannot be removed after the other stud is placed in the holeh 2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the small end of the keyhole slot extends from'the engaged portion in the direction of said hole.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flange is made of relatively light sheet iron, whereby said slit may be deformed to permit entry of said stud' without impairing the utility of the device.

4. A sign assembly including a flat display panel, a plurality of letters to be displayed on said panel, each letter being provided with transverse slots at one extremity thereof and at least one recess at its front, a slat projecting from one end of said panel and adapted to mate with the slot in said letters, a plurality of spring fingers attached to the same end of said panel as said slats and extending over said panel, one adapted to mate with each hole of said letters when said slat is in said slot. 

